Baby Shark Snaps Up the Opposition

From last to first, it was a big effort by Baby Shark (4 g Rip Van Winkle - Bak Da Chief, by Chief Bearhart) to win the $10,000 Maiden 1600 metres on 7 January at Ruakaka.

A brother to dual Group 1 winner Te Akau Shark (Rip Van Winkle), who recently retired due to an eye issue, Baby Shark was not far away when finishing solidly fresh-up in the Maiden 1400 metres on 16 December at Pukekohe, and had to be good in winning.

Although drawn awkwardly (9), Baby Shark was slow to move and last before jockey Craig Grylls sent him forward at the 1200m to eighth spot. With his mind on the job, he travelled well, quickened into contention on straightening and gained the advantage a furlong out. 

Having already purchased Te Akau Shark at the 2016 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale, Te Akau principal David Ellis CNZM bought Baby Shark as a yearling for $110,000 at the 2018 Karaka Book 1 Sale from the draft of Leanach Lodge. He is owned by Steve Mace, Chris Russell, Matt Allenby, Matt Fitzgerald, Wayne Knight, Donna & Robert Rudd, Shaneen Flaunty-Escobar, Kevin & Cheryll Hopping and Nigel & Angie Boyd, some of whom share in both horses.

“When we bought Baby Shark, Te Akau Shark had shown plenty of promise with two wins and a fourth to (stable-mate) Embellish (Savabeel) in the 2000 Guineas,” Ellis said.

Te Akau Shark retired winning of seven from 14 races, including the BCD Group Sprint (Gr. 1, 1400m), Chipping Norton Stakes (Gr. 1, 1600m), Couplands Bakeries Mile (Gr. 2, 1600m), third in a Cox Plate (Gr. 1, 2040m), and $1.5m prize money.

“It was a great win and on the strength of that performance you'd think he could win more races,” Ellis said. “He's been a very difficult horse to train and Jamie (Richards) has done an unbelievable job trying to get the best out of him. 

“I love it when Craig (Grylls) rides our horses. He's such a genuine bloke and you know the horses are always going to be given their chance. He's the third generation of his family to ride winners in the tangerine, so we've had a long association going back to his grandfather.” 

In the race named Thanks To Our Volunteers, Baby Shark ran the mile in 1:35.5 on footing rated Good3, and paid $6.60 & $2.30 on the NZ TAB tote. 

“He's been a bit disappointing, but in saying that has needed time to strengthen, mature, and grow into his frame, like most Rip Van Winkle's do and it was a really good win,” Richards said. “It's not easy living up to expectations when you've got a brother the calibre of Te Akau Shark. 

“We didn't go up there with the greatest of ambitions, as he'd been just okay in his work and in the feed bin, but obviously we're really pleased to see him do that. 

“Craig (Grylls) is riding in great form and he's a good, honest, jockey that we like to use and he's puts in the hard yards at the track for us too.”

Similar to Te Akau Shark, Baby Shark inherited chestnut colouring in keeping with progeny by his dam-sire Chief Bearhart (Chief's Crown), a Canadian stallion that won 12 of his 26 starts. One of his best racing progeny was 2006 New Zealand Filly of the Year Shikoba, trained at Te Akau by Mark Walker. 

The line has been bred by the Hollinshead family, who have had terrific successsince buying grand-dam and foundation mare Havitbak (Bakharoff) from the late Jim Campin (Chequers Stud). 

Both Baby Shark and Te Akau Shark are from Waikato Cup (Gr. 2, 2400m) winner Bak da Chief, in turn out of Havitbak (Bakharoff), who became a tremendous producer of high-quality horses and whose progeny have yielded six individual winners of 19 races.

A half-sister to Bak Da Chief, Bak Da Princess (Danske) left Easter Handicap (Gr. 1, 1600m) winner Pondarosa Miss (High Chaparral), who also finished third in the Auckland Cup (Gr. 1, 3200m) and Zabeel Classic (Gr. 1, 2000m), and Ecuador (High Chaparral), a consistent stakes performing winner of ten races in Sydney.

Baby Shark was strapped by Sarah West. 

Photo credit - www.raceimages.co.nz

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